Sunday, November 21, 2021

So Much to be Grateful For

With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, it's time to reflect on all that we are grateful for. Let's be honest, for so many reasons, 2021 has been a really crappy year. I'm not going to talk about any of that. It's Thanksgiving and I'm going to focus on the positive, the stuff that kept me going in spite of what was truly a very difficult year for me personally:

And this week, my return to full-on running. 

On Thanksgiving, we'll be celebrating in person, with my entire family. I'm looking forward to it!

Wednesday's trail run
Weekly Rundown:
Sunday: Trail run 5.5 miles
Monday: pool running
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: trail run 6.25 miles
Thursday: strength training
Friday: run! 5.25 miles
Saturday: rest

Running

It was such a great week of running for me! On Sunday, I joined the local Trail Sisters group on their bimonthly trail run at "my" preserve! We had about 12 ladies and a dog all planning on running the 5.5 mile main loop of the trail. I started out alone with plans to do my 1:2 run/walk intervals. Soon I was playing cat and mouse with one of the women and she invited me to run along with her, at her 11 m/m pace. I decided to try and as we talked, the miles flew by. I ran the entire distance with her! 


I returned to the preserve on Wednesday with plans to traverse the single tracks. It was drizzly but relatively warm, 58 degrees, and I took advantage of the opportunity to run in shorts! As I did last week, I saw a couple of bucks, including an 8-pointer. The hubs reflected that you'd never see a buck like that in Wisconsin--too many hunters. For this run, I mostly had the trails to myself and enjoyed the solitude before I had to head into work.

Buoyed by Sunday's run, I reset my Garmin run/walk intervals to 3:1. It was cold and crisp when I headed out to the bike path. I used to call these my "fast Friday" runs and this run lived up to that, at least compared to what I've been doing for the past 4 1/2 months! I was late getting out the door and worried that I wouldn't have enough time to go the distance, but my feet cooperated. 10m/m never felt so fast, lol! I don't think I stopped smiling all day. 

Pool Running

I was gifted Fluid Running's newest workout, High Gear, a level 3 workout with a track ladder and hill sprints. Yes, you read that right! The dive well was crowded with the pool noodlers when I arrived, but I was able to tether myself to the ladder in the corner and dig in. This was a tough class but those hill sprints put a smile on my face--who am I? Hills in the pool? I was tired but felt very accomplished when I was done. 

Strength Training

This week, Sammy Jo was out of town, so I was again on my own. I decided to work on glute activation again this week, starting out with mobility: 3 sets of good mornings, banded side steps (holding a KB), and front rack lunges. For strength, I did 4 sets each of Romanian DLs and Goblet Squats, both holding a KB, and glute bridges with a barbell. While I miss my coach, it's nice to have the tools to continue the work on my own!

Coming up...

I hadn't signed up for a Turkey Trot this year because I don't feel 'race ready', even though there are plenty of opportunities. Instead, I'm participating in Fluid Running's Turkey Trot. Yes, I'm running a 10k in the pool. There is also a 5k option. When you sign up for the event, you are asked to make a small donation to Feeding America. You'll receive a coupon to download a free 5k or 10k workout. Don't want to swim? You can also do the event on land. It's a great opportunity to try the workouts. I credit Fluid Running for keeping me 'running ready' while I healed from my injury. I'm going to continue to do these workouts weekly through the winter.


How was your week? What do you have to be thankful for? What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you participating in a Turkey Trot this week? 


I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 


42 comments :

  1. I know, all too well, how good it feels to be back in the running shoes after a setback. Can you say RELEASE! Our local Trot is 10 years old this week, so it’s a given I’ll be there. And, the weather looks promising!

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  2. Hooray to be back up and RUNNING! How fun that FR has a Turkey trot. So creative! Looks like we'll have decent weather here on Thanksgiving. Wish I'd see a buck around here but those dang hunters. I hate it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  3. I love this post! I also have a lot to be thankful for, including looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with my son and his wife, and Christmas with my daughter and her boyfriend. Oh, and being able to run a few miles a few days a week!

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    1. Those miles are golden, aren't they? They make everything else feel a little better.

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  4. I love your list, and hooray for being back running! I'm grateful at the moment for the understanding team at my parkrun, who were able to accommodate me deciding not to take my not-quite-post-cold self to the park 5 miles away on the bus yesterday morning and shuffled the volunteer roster around.

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  5. Back to full-on running! Go, Wendy, go!
    That's such a happy photo with the Trail Sisters - it really fits your happy mood in this post. You are right, there is so much we can be thankful for.

    Now, I need to know: how do you do hill sprints in a POOL?

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    1. While tethered to the ladder, I drive forward at a 45 degree angle. This is supposed to mimic hill running. It sure felt hard, but I liked it better than actual hills, LOL

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  6. I Am So Thankful For Your Friendship - We Are ALL So Dang Proud Of You - And 60 Years, Unheard Of - You And The Entire Family Are The Definition Of Inspirational - Big Hugs

    Cheers

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  7. Beautiful list.
    Poor bucks and poor animals! I cannot stand the hunters.
    I am very glad you are back to running and now be ready for some race in person!

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    1. I could not be a hunter but if the hunters actually make use of the meat for food, I'm ok with it. What I cannot stand are big game hunters. It should be illegal.

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  8. Yaaaayyyyy! Coming back to running after an injury is the best feeling in the world. I love your list, and weirdly can share a few of your items (my sister also had cancer in 2020, now is cancer-free, son in college, in-person.) I also love the pool Turkey Trot! Even though I'm definitely not "race ready" I'm running a Turkey Trot- otherwise I would consider joining you in the pool.

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    1. I'm so freshly back to running that I don't want to risk injury. You know how competitive I am, lol

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  9. I had a great week - Wednesday’s 10 miler was a perfect 10 with an average pace of 10 m/m! We woke up this morning at the Yosemite View Lodge, 2 miles outside the park. The Merced River is flowing just outside our room. We have a 10 mile hike planned for today.

    I’m thankful for a healthy year, 30+ pound weight loss, that has lead to injury free running. More than that, I’m thankful we get to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year!

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    1. Your morning sounds lovely! I love Yosemite.

      Now to shed my weight that I put on from this injury!

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  10. There is so much to be thankful for this year! So happy to read that your sister is doing so well and fab to see you back in your running shoes. Love the fluid running 10K in the pool idea-I don't have a winter pool option right now so could not join in

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    1. I am grateful for the park district pool! It's really nice and it's inexpensive!

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  11. I'm glad you have so much to be grateful for, Wendy. It's definitely something I think about often, even with all the stress that's been ongoing, there's always something to be grateful for (even if it's getting some me-time while the husband is away, LOL!)

    No turkey trot. I'll be going to my mom. In fact, I may have to go before Thanksgiving, we'll see how it shakes out.

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    1. I think there's always a lot to be grateful for, even when it seems like everything is going wrong. Looking for the good definitely helps me stay positive.

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  12. Yes lots to be thankful for! It's great to see you back running and that it going so well. Enjoy your Turkey Trot!

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  13. Yes, I wish we thought about it besides Thanksgiving.

    You definitely have many good things going on in your life. Plus your virtual friends.

    I am thankful for my health and that of my family and friends.

    I am running a 10k and then going to my MILs for dinner.

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  14. That's great news that your running is coming along so well! I'm signed up for a turkey trot on Thursday, but with being in warm Florida since Wednesday, this doesn't seem like Thanksgiving week. Once we land in cold Virginia tomorrow I'm sure it will, though! LOL

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    1. It's funny how we associate the chill with the holidays! I think I could adapt to a warm Thanksgiving, tho.

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  15. Once in a while we really do have to become a "glass half full" kind of person and recognize that there is still much about life that is beautiful and worthy of celebration.

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  16. 2021 has definitely been another hard year, but you're so right about taking time out to list everything we're grateful for this year.
    I love that you're doing a Turkey Trot 10K in the pool - that's so cool! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

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  17. Very cool that you are pool running a 10k! That's impressive.

    Love your perspective and a reminder of all there is to be grateful for! Even though Covid is still causing stress, at least we are in a much better place than last Thanksgiving!

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    1. i keep thinking that! It's definitely been mentally exhausting this year. I hope things turn around in 2022.

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  18. Yes! Yes! Yes! I am so happy you are fully back to running! What a triumph and victory for you!

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    1. Thank you! You know what a challenge this is. I've still got a lot of work to do.

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  19. It sounds like a great list of things to be thankful for. Too often we focus on the negatives and forget the good parts that do exist. I need to start thinking of my own list.
    So glad to hear your sister is cancer free!
    Congrats on completing the Ice Age Trail challenge! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and have fun at the pool Turkey Trot!

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  20. So cool that you have a running group and that you were able to find someone you could hang with at your run/walk pace! Good luck in the turkey trot. I wish I had the energy to do the Schaumburg TT this year. Oh well maybe next year. Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Me too! This is the first year I haven't done that TT in years.

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  21. 2021 is definitely a year when it's a challenge to focus on the positive - it's awesome you are able to do that and share with us readers. Really great news about your sister and the whole family getting together for the 60th anniversary!

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    1. You are right--this has been such a hard year. It's important to look for the good!

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